Black Crows Nocta / Anima

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10-01-2018, 09:16 PM
skibrd

Black Crows Nocta / Anima

What do you guys got? Anyone have any time on them? I’m seeing more and more of them around, but very little in the way of reviews (out side of the pre-season buyers guide blurbs).

I’m really looking for a replacement for the 193 Shiros, I’m down to one pair, and the 193 Gunsmoke. Something a little stable, reliable, maybe a bit of pop, doesn’t need to go Mach loony through everything, but can be trusted to hold an edge in oh fuck moments (probably not what the Nocta is know for, but neither were the Shiros).

Reliability is huge too, I hate having to deal with warranties, and I’ve seen more then one pair of Black Crows that has fallen apart after 3/4 of a season.

So far I’ve heard the Nocta is the new Shiro, but better, different but better.

From what little there is written about the Anima, it sounds like it’s the updated Gunsmoke that the Rustler 11 isn’t.

Thoughts?
10-02-2018, 04:31 AM
thecazdog

I'm interested in reports too...but all my reading/lurking has me leaning more towards the Rustler than the Anima. I'd be touring on it too, so a bit lighter wouldn't hurt.

Guys are using both skis on FWT and winning things, so I don't think either would be undergunned. Unless you're really fat and ski hard.
10-02-2018, 07:32 AM
bw_wp_hedonism

I have a brand new pair of anima that I got on sale last season to replace delamming rocker2 122. Also keen to hear what people say.

The Blister piece on the anima is lean - they make it sound like a Bibby.

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10-02-2018, 08:25 AM
mr_pretzel

The 190 nocta weighs like 2000g and feels stupid light. It’s much more of a playfull pow ski that likes a centered stance and easy skiing, not a shiro replacement.

Haven’t skied the anima, but the 194 looks fun, its much heavier too.
10-02-2018, 08:53 AM
smooth operator

Didnt they start calling it the 'Nocta Air' after they redesigned it to full rocker? I have a buddy's pair of the cambered ones in my basement (never skied them -not mine and wrong BSL) but they don't feel light.
10-02-2018, 11:20 AM
mr_pretzel

Quote:

Originally Posted by smooth operator

Didnt they start calling it the 'Nocta Air' after they redesigned it to full rocker? I have a buddy's pair of the cambered ones in my basement (never skied them -not mine and wrong BSL) but they don't feel light.

I think they redesigned after they changed cores and it is now the Nocta 2?
10-02-2018, 11:23 AM
Banh Mi

I am interested in some reviews on the Anima as well.

SkiBrd, have you checked out the Icelantic Nomad 125?

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10-02-2018, 12:21 PM
LeoK

check skipass.com (http://www.skipass.com/tests/ski/black-crows_anima/). The frenchys review there a lot. If google translate does not do it for you I will translate you the missing parts.
10-02-2018, 03:12 PM
TahoeJ

I have Noctas and Anima Freebirds. Both fun skis. What do you want to know specifically?
10-02-2018, 03:35 PM
HukuTa_KydecHuk

Skied Anima 188 for one day. Very much reminded me of Bibby 190, but just a touch softer. Stable and easy to pivot.
Also skied Anima Freebirds - they are completely different ski.
10-02-2018, 04:18 PM
bw_wp_hedonism

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeoK

check skipass.com (http://www.skipass.com/tests/ski/black-crows_anima/). The frenchys review there a lot. If google translate does not do it for you I will translate you the missing parts.

Yeah, I spend time browsing skipass when trying to burn time in summer. Some of the reviews are just confusing and contradictory...
10-02-2018, 04:22 PM
bw_wp_hedonism

Black Crows Nocta / Anima

Also, is it me or do the Noctas and Renegades look pretty similar (full rocker, 122 waist, 26 vs 30m radii, close on weights)?

Wonder how they compare on snow?

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10-02-2018, 08:44 PM
Banh Mi

Black Crows Nocta / Anima

Quote:

Originally Posted by HukuTa_KydecHuk

Very much reminded me of Bibby 190, but just a touch softer.

This is intriguing.

I want to try a heavier but softer Bamboo core Wildcat. Could be the faster Obsethed replacement I have been looking for.

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10-02-2018, 10:53 PM
skibrd

Quote:

Originally Posted by TahoeJ

I have Noctas and Anima Freebirds. Both fun skis. What do you want to know specifically?

How do they ski? How stiff are they compared to how stiff they ski? How’s the durability?

Anima - can you use it as an every day ski? How’s it in trees compared to open fields? How is it when the snow gets a little cut up?

Nocta - compared to other pow skis you’ve been on, how does it compare? A 122mm ski shouldn’t suck in pow, but does it float on top or more in the snow? How does it Pivot in trees? Does it get tossed around when the snows not perfect? How’s the pop, and how is landing on it?
10-03-2018, 06:40 AM
HukuTa_KydecHuk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betelgeuse

This is intriguing.

I want to try a heavier but softer Bamboo core Wildcat. Could be the faster Obsethed replacement I have been looking for.

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I never skied Obsethed but couple of buddies had them. As I remember they were veeeery soft. By saying Anima is a touch softer I meant they are super close to Bibby and for sure Bibbys are not soft. When I skied Animas it was an unexpected powder day with 10-15" of fresh snow so kinda hard to comment on their overall performance, but in powder and tracked powder they were cool. I remember two things that came up to my mind - first was that they feel a lot like my bibby 190, and second, when pow got tracked - that they are little softer while skiing and I can feel that.
10-03-2018, 07:51 AM
TahoeJ

Quote:

Originally Posted by skibrd

How do they ski? How stiff are they compared to how stiff they ski? How’s the durability?

Anima - can you use it as an every day ski? How’s it in trees compared to open fields? How is it when the snow gets a little cut up?

Nocta - compared to other pow skis you’ve been on, how does it compare? A 122mm ski shouldn’t suck in pow, but does it float on top or more in the snow? How does it Pivot in trees? Does it get tossed around when the snows not perfect? How’s the pop, and how is landing on it?

The Noctas are pretty light for how big they are, but they hold up surprisingly well when things get chopped up. Obviously you need to adjust your style and you can't just plow through everything, but I've also found that due to them being relatively light that my legs aren't as tired later in the day. Also, they ski groomers back to the lift a lot better than a 122mm ski should. Progressively mounted but not so much that they can't be driven, and they pivot on a dime in the trees. Very playful and great for popping off little features on pow days. And yeah, they float like a wide ski should - the rocker line / taper on the tips runs pretty deep. Durability has been fine. The much lighter freebird skis are the ones that seem like they'd be less durable.

My Animas are freebirds so they're my pow touring ski. I've skied them in the resort (on Tectons) and definitely got pushed around a little, but not too bad. I'm sure with the regular Anima that's less of a problem.
10-03-2018, 08:20 AM
skibrd

Quote:

Originally Posted by TahoeJ

The Noctas are pretty light for how big they are, but they hold up surprisingly well when things get chopped up. Obviously you need to adjust your style and you can't just plow through everything, but I've also found that due to them being relatively light that my legs aren't as tired later in the day. Also, they ski groomers back to the lift a lot better than a 122mm ski should. Progressively mounted but not so much that they can't be driven, and they pivot on a dime in the trees. Very playful and great for popping off little features on pow days. And yeah, they float like a wide ski should - the rocker line / taper on the tips runs pretty deep. Durability has been fine. The much lighter freebird skis are the ones that seem like they'd be less durable.

My Animas are freebirds so they're my pow touring ski. I've skied them in the resort (on Tectons) and definitely got pushed around a little, but not too bad. I'm sure with the regular Anima that's less of a problem.

Thanks. The Noctas sounds, and look, like a great replacement for my Shiros. I’m liking what you are saying, and it’s matching up with what little there is to read about them. The taper is what I think is going to convince me to get Noctas over Confessions or Candide 4.0s. The tip on the Shiros was so huge, it would just bash into pow and get caught/pulled on.

I was thinking about the Animas for pow touring or sled skiing. I’m pretty sold on the Noctas and I’m not sure I can justify the Animas too.
10-03-2018, 11:14 AM
SupreChicken

Quote:

Originally Posted by HukuTa_KydecHuk

Skied Anima 188 for one day. Very much reminded me of Bibby 190, but just a touch softer. Stable and easy to pivot.
Also skied Anima Freebirds - they are completely different ski.

What does this mean? Softer? More chattery? Better float? Worse float? Better on firm? Worse on firm? Carvable? otherwise? Great in bumps? Forgiving? The ideal park ski?

Mini review of the FB and the comparison to the bibby would be a thing I'd like to read...